Hilton Honors American Express Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
Both are travel travel cards. The Hilton Honors American Express Card comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Chase Sapphire Preferred from Chase at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
For most people the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,500 more in estimated value) than the Hilton Honors American Express Card's. Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred first; revisit the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $95 |
| Sign-up bonus | Not advertised | 75,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $1,500 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | - | $5,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Chase |
| Card category | travel | travel |
| Best earning category (Hilton_hotels) | 7x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | chase-ur |
| Headline benefits |
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Editorial take: Chase Sapphire Preferred
The best starter travel card, period. Transferable points, solid bonus categories, and a low annual fee make this the card we recommend to almost everyone getting into the points game. Note: the 10% anniversary points bonus sunsets October 1, 2026.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Hilton Honors American Express Card or Chase Sapphire Preferred?
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a public bonus (75,000 points, worth roughly $1,500), while the Hilton Honors American Express Card doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Hilton Honors American Express Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Chase Sapphire Preferred's $95 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Chase Sapphire Preferred's benefits to clear $95 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Hilton Honors American Express Card.
- Can I have both the Hilton Honors American Express Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Hilton Honors American Express Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Hilton Honors American Express Card: no published min spend. Chase Sapphire Preferred: $5,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.
